ORIGIN

Bought on BaT: Four 80’s Japanese Turbo Coupes

Pop-up headlights, hatchbacks (often louvered), 5-speeds, sophisticated suspension, four-wheel discs, digital dashes and fender flares define the 1980’s Japanese sports coupe, and though not all of the four highlighted here feature all of these characteristics, they do share several across the board. They’re all turbocharged and rear-wheel drive as well, and together represent one of the quickest rising segments of the vintage car hobby. Values vary widely, though top out at around $15k for even the most expensive car here. These are the cars many of us spent our formative years reading and dreaming about, and fortunately there’s still a decent supply of good ones remaining. Here they are in no particular order.

Want to be notified when one of these models is listed for sale, or to see detailed past auction results? You can check out BaT Model Pages for each of the vehicles below by clicking on their results chart, or via the search function at the top right.

Toyota Supra Turbo (Mk3 1986 – 1993)

The first and second generation Supras set the mold for a rear-driven, straight-six, four-seater sporting GT, though the Mk3 took things to a new level of sophistication with computer-controlled four-wheel double-wishbone/multi-link suspension and twin cam, four-valve engines across the board. Turbo cars offered around 230 HP and 245 lb. ft. of torque, and performance figures included low to mid six-second range 0-60 MPH runs and close to 150 flat-out–big-league numbers for the day. True to the Supra’s GT roots, many Turbos were optioned with automatic transmissions, though even 5-speed manual-equipped cars weighed in at nearly 3,600 pounds. Regardless, handling was surprisingly good, offering quick turn-in, lots of grip and a good degree of throttle adjustability thanks in part to the Turbo’s standard limited-slip differential.

Throw in a quiet, comfortable cabin that wouldn’t feel at all out of place in an early Lexus product and it’s easy to see why these cars make excellent long-distance, high-speed interstate eaters. Mk3’s get a bad rap for their 7M-series sixes’ propensity to pop head gaskets, though this was down to faulty factory head bolt torquing recommendations for which an official recall was unfortunately never issued. Properly torqued however, both naturally-aspirated and Turbo cars have proven to be as faultlessly reliable as any other 80’s Toyota product, and chances are that most good examples will now have been fixed. Projects and scruffy drivers can be had for as little as $2k-$3k, though really good cars start to show up at around $7k and up, with excellent, low-mileage examples starting at around $10k. Only two Mk3 Supra Turbos have sold through BaT Auctions so far, but we’ll continue to update values on the car’s Model Page which can be accessed via a click on the chart below (covering all generations of Supra), or over here.

Mitsubishi Starion ESI-r/Chrysler Conquest TSi (1986 – 1989)

Wearing one of the best fender flare and wheel combos of the era–maybe even all-time–Mitsubishi’s factory widebody Starion ESI-r (also marketed here in the US as the Chrysler Conquest TSi) came on the scene in 1986, three years after the original, narrow-hipped version. These were sophisticated cars for the time, offering four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and Japan’s first electronic fuel-injected and turbocharged engines. Many had limited slip differentials as well, and handling was often compared favorably to both Mazda’s second-generation FC RX-7 and Porsche’s 944.

While Japan and Europe made do with a livelier 2.0 liter variant, US cars received a relatively massive 2.6 liter SOHC 12-valve four fed by a turbo and intercooler for between 176 and 188 HP depending on model year. As such a large displacement would suggest, torque was impressive with between 223 to 234 lb. ft. available from low revs, again depending on model year. Starions (named for the Star of Orion, and not a Japanese mispronunciation of the word “stallion” as is often said) and Conquests were popular and successful in club level racing, including multiple SCCA championship titles. A handful of great looking 4WD Group B prototypes were made, but sadly never reached homologation before the formula met its infamous end in 1986. Again, only two of these cars have sold through BaT Auctions so far, and as there was only a single generation there’s no chart currently available–once a few more make their way through the site we’ll add one to a dedicated Model Page. These cars are just beginning to increase in value, so prices are still somewhat scattered–this nice driver sold for a reasonable $4k in August of 2016, while this really sharp example traded hands for exactly twice that figure.

Nissan 300ZX Turbo (first generation 1984 – 1989)

The Z31 chassis 300ZX is a bit strange in that it represents two distinct generations–it’s both a third series car (when considering it as a successor to earlier Z-cars) and a first series car (when viewing it as the first of two distinct 300ZX’s). The platform was overlooked for years, mostly on the grounds of it being softer than both its predecessors and younger Z-car relatives–this is true to some degree, but there’s nothing wrong with a great looking sports GT, and it seems that the market is finally coming around to this way of thinking. Our focus is on turbocharged Z31 variants, and despite a rising profile good ones are still readily available and reasonably priced.

Though certainly built more with relatively quiet, comfortable cruising in mind, these are still very decent handling RWD cars that can be hustled fairly quickly through a satisfying series of bends. They’re obviously more comfortable on long third-gear sweepers than tight hairpins and switchbacks, but good mechanical grip, reasonably accurate steering and a well balanced chassis all mean they’re far from the floaty barges they’re often made out to be. The passing of time has done nothing to diminish the car’s inherently good looks, and with its big gauges, chunky styling and comfortable seats, the 300ZX offers one of our favorite Japanese interiors of the era. Power came from a turbocharged 3.0 liter SOHC per-bank V6 of 200 (later 205) HP, and many were fitted with automatics in keeping with the GT theme. We prefer 5-speed manuals of course, and T-tops are always fun too. Limited edition Shiro examples like the white car seen here tend to sell for a bit more than other Turbos, though generally speaking prices range from around $4k to $11k or so. Click the chart below to see all past BaT Auction results for 300ZX’s of both generations, or you can click here.

Mazda RX-7 Turbo (1986 – 1992)

Mazda briefly offered a turbocharged first-generation RX-7 for the Japanese domestic market, which is why the follow-up second generation forced-induction car was marketed here in the US as the Turbo II. Where the first factory force-fed ‘Rex lacked an intercooler in keeping with the Mk1’s relatively crude-but-effective spec (recirculating ball steering and a solid rear axle), the second generation car took things to an entirely new level with not only an air-to-air intercooler, but also a twin-scroll turbo and much more advanced engine management. Combined with an all-new and stiffer but similarly compact body shell, advanced four-wheel independent suspension (with passive rear steering), standard four-wheel discs and more precise, more communicative rack and pinion steering, the Turbo II offered some of the best performance, tech and looks of any Japanese sports coupe of the era.

Initially the turbocharged 13B offered 182 HP and 183 lb. ft. of torque, allowing low-to-mid six-second range runs to 60 MPH. From 1990 the revised Turbo would make 200 HP and a roughly equivalent torque figure, shaving a few tenths from the previous car’s already-impressive 60 MPH dash. Any rotary engine needs special care including frequent oil checks and changes, careful warming and frequent trips to the redline (we’ve even pre-mixed in a few of our own Wankel-powered cars), but proper maintenance is especially important for turbocharged examples. Fortunately most good surviving second-generation RX-7 Turbos have been in the hands of enthusiasts for a while now, meaning upkeep is frequently documented. As the saying goes in pays to buy the best you can afford, and in this case the best cars typically come in at around $10k–excellent special edition cars like the 32k-mile 10th Anniversary example shown above can sell for quite a bit more. Click the chart below to see all past BaT Auctions results for RX-7’s, or you can click here.